Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Revenues from real estate operations	$ 266,227,000	$ 272,849,000	$ 853,936,000	$ 791,669,000
Expenses
Operating expenses	210,255,000	175,275,000	603,715,000	495,692,000
Depreciation and amortization	85,100,000	55,479,000	245,305,000	155,714,000
Impairment of real estate	200,155,000	30,200,000	208,210,000	30,660,000
Net (gain) loss on land held for divestiture activity	0	(807,000)	7,555,000	5,651,000
Total expenses	495,510,000	260,147,000	1,064,785,000	687,717,000
Interest expense	(72,126,000)	(66,744,000)	(250,100,000)	(180,988,000)
Amortization of mortgage procurement costs	(2,246,000)	(2,611,000)	(7,572,000)	(8,674,000)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt	(13,096,000)	8,007,000	6,335,000	7,288,000
Interest and other income	13,881,000	10,426,000	37,063,000	34,504,000
Net gain on disposition of partial interests in rental properties	491,160,000	0	496,092,000	0
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	188,290,000	(38,220,000)	70,969,000	(43,918,000)
Income tax expense (benefit)
Current	29,151,000	(23,804,000)	7,681,000	(50,077,000)
Deferred	71,493,000	3,779,000	60,841,000	30,189,000
Total income tax expense (benefit)	100,644,000	(20,025,000)	68,522,000	(19,888,000)
Net gain on change in control of interests	0	0	2,762,000	6,766,000
Earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities, gross of tax
Equity in earnings	46,474,000	4,189,000	59,815,000	24,627,000
Impairment	0	0	0	(390,000)
Net gain (loss) on land held for divestiture activity	186,000	(283,000)	867,000	(42,170,000)
Total equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities	46,660,000	3,906,000	60,682,000	(17,933,000)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	134,306,000	(14,289,000)	65,891,000	(35,197,000)
Discontinued operations, net of tax:
Operating earnings (loss) from rental properties	(188,000)	2,153,000	2,137,000	5,805,000
Impairment of real estate	0	(100,000)	0	(2,604,000)
Gain on disposition of rental properties	856,000	10,589,000	26,378,000	16,238,000
Earnings from discontinued operations	668,000	12,642,000	28,515,000	19,439,000
Net earnings (loss)	134,974,000	(1,647,000)	94,406,000	(15,758,000)
Noncontrolling interests
(Earnings) loss from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, gross of tax	18,483,000	362,000	29,250,000	(4,927,000)
(Earnings) loss from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(128,000)	207,000	(5,976,000)	(1,358,000)
(Earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	18,355,000	569,000	23,274,000	(6,285,000)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	153,329,000	(1,078,000)	117,680,000	(22,043,000)
Preferred dividends and inducements of preferred stock conversion	0	(17,731,000)	(185,000)	(25,431,000)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ 153,329,000	$ (18,809,000)	$ 117,495,000	$ (47,474,000)
Basic earnings (loss) per common share
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ 0.75	$ (0.19)	$ 0.48	$ (0.39)
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ 0.00	$ 0.08	$ 0.11	$ 0.11
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ 0.75	$ (0.11)	$ 0.59	$ (0.28)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ 0.67	$ (0.19)	$ 0.47	$ (0.39)
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ 0.00	$ 0.08	$ 0.10	$ 0.11
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ 0.67	$ (0.11)	$ 0.57	$ (0.28)